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Drug trafficker facing deportation

By Greg Bird
birdman@tmcvoice.com

The man arrested earlier this month on drug trafficking charges agreed to a plea deal that will possibly see him deported, as well as forfeiting cash and vehicles seized during the investigation.
Pablo Eduardo Hipolito Gonzaga, 38, was arrested on November 6th after an investigation by the McCreary County Sheriff’s Department and other agencies led to a search warrant at his residence on Rutherford Road in Strunk.
As a result of the search 18.9 grams of suspected methamphetamine; 14.8 grams of suspected cocaine and several pills were discovered in a child’s car seat covered with a blanket. Additionally, several hundred baggies, scales, more than $3,000 in cash and other drug paraphernalia were seized.
Gonzaga was originally charged with multiple counts of trafficking in a controlled substance first degree, possession of drug paraphernalia and other charges.
In District Court last Wednesday Gonzaga entered in to a plea deal with the Commonwealth of Kentucky, agreeing to plead guilty to an amended charge of trafficking in a controlled substance third degree and forfeiting all seized property to the McCreary County Sheriff’s Department.
The agreement was contingent that he commits no further violations. The Court document also stipulates he return to Mexico, his apparent native country. Agents from the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement took custody of Gonzaga from the Leslie County Detention Center Thursday to facilitate the deportation process and he is currently being held in a facility in Boone County.
Among the items listed in the forfeiture order were over $3,000 in cash, a video recorder, pistol, counterfeit money, eight motor vehicles, two 4-wheelers, a jet ski and a trailer.
In a related story, Gonzaga’s wife Jacklyn R. Gonzaga, 28, was arrested Friday afternoon on a bench warrant for three counts of trafficking in a controlled substance.
She was lodged in the Leslie County Detention Center and has a trial date scheduled for January 24.
Sheriff Waters said additional arrests in the case are still possible.

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